Hydraulically-operated device having axial fluid injection means



y 6, 1957 w. M. OSBORN 2,799,371

' HYDRAULICALLY-OPERATED DEVICE HAVING AXIAL FLUID INJECTION MEANS FiledMarch 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet ,2

INVENTOR mzum M Usbazzo mgfj v ATTORNEYS July 6, 1957 w. M. OSBORN2,799,371

HYDRAULICALLY-OPERATED DEVICE HAVING AXIAL FLUID INJECTION MEANS 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 28, 1956 Illlllllll Wflliam M; Osborn fiATTORNEYS U ed St es P en HYDRAULICALLY-GPERATED DEVICE HAVING AXIALFLUID INJECTION MEANS William M. Osborn, Denver, Colo. Application March28, 1956, Serial No. 574,448 22 Claims. (Cl. 192-.098)

This invention relates to a novel hydraulically-operated device adaptedfor various uses such as positive power transmission, aninfinitely-variable-speed motor, etc., and, more particularly, to adevice of this type which is highly efficient, simple in design, andwhich may be readily and economically manufactured.

The hydraulically-operable device of the invention briefly comprises: ahousing providing a rotor chamber; a rotor unit mounted within saidrotor chamber for rotation about a central axis and adapted to beconnected to a shaft, said rotor unit having a plurality ofradially-movable vanes and said housing providing working chambers forsaid vanes; fluid-passage means in a peripheral portion of said housingfor admitting operating fluid to or discharging operating fluid fromsaid working chambers; and fluid-passage means in said rotor unit andhousing to direct the flow of operating fluid along a path extendingalong said central axis through said housing and rotor unit, andradially outward through said rotor unit and radially-movable vanes intosaid working chambers when said vanes are in an outwardly extendedposition.

In a simple embodiment of the invention, operating fluid is admittedthrough the passageway along the central axis and forces theradially-movable rotor vanes outwardly into the working chambers andacts upon them in such position to drive the rotor in a forward angulardirection. Retraction of the rotor vanes at thedischarge end of theworking chambers is accomplished by contact of the rotor vanes with aninwardly extending portion of the periphery of the rotor chamber whichalso provides an abutment for reaction of the operating fluid.

In a modification of the invention, the hydraulicallyoperated deviceincludes means independent of fluid pressure for positively controllingthe radial movement of the rotor vanes at all angular positions of therotor. In such modification, the rotor may be made to rotate in aforward angular direction by introducing operating fluid into thehousing and rotor along the central axis and out through the rotor vanesand exit ports, or may be made to reverse its direction by simplyreversing the direction of the flow of the operating fluid, i. e. byinjecting the operating fluid into the ports in the peripheral portionof the rotor chamber and discharging it through the rotor vanes andaxially outward through the rotor and rotor housing, the rotor unit willbe caused to rotate in the reverse direction.

In a still further modification, the device is provided with a pair ofrotor units adapted to be driven in opposite directions, and controlmeans are provided for selectively directing operating fluid axially toone or the other of the rotor units, whereby a reversible drive isobtainable. The separate rotor units in this instance are selectivelyclutchable to a common shaft so as to turn such shaft in a forward orreverse direction.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, well: balanced,hydraulically-operated device of the type described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelhydraulically-operable device having a rotor unit mounted for rotationabout a central axis, wherein said rotor unit is provided with aplurality of movable vanes and means are provided for admitting ordischarging operating fluid to said vanes along said central axis andfor controlling the flow of operating fluid to said vanes depending uponthe angular position of the rotor unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically-operableunit which is immediately self-starting in all positions of the rotorupon admission of operating fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically-operabledevice having a rotor unit provided with radially-movable vanes, andhaving means to cause said vanes to move radially outward of said rotorby the action of fluid pressure alone.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hy-vdraulically-operated device having a rotor unit provided withradially-movable vanes, wherein means independent of fluid pressure areprovided to positively control the radial position of said rotor vanesat all angular positions of the rotor unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reversiblehydraulically-operable device having a single rotor unit provided withradially-movable'vanes and including fluidpassage means in said vanesfor flow of operating fluid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically-operabledevice having a pair of rotor units adapted to be driven in oppositedirections and provided with means for selectively admitting operatingfluid to said rotors and for selectively connecting said rotors'with acommon shaft to thereby selectively effect forward and reverse rotationof said shaft.

The invention will be made clear by reference to the ensuing descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hydraulically-operable device having asingle rotor unit and constructed inaccordance with the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the hydraulically-operable, device asviewed from the left of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the radially-movable rotor vanesof the hydraulically-operated device as shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the body of the rotor unit of thedevice shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the rotor vanes having been removed fromthe rotor unit for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the rotor body shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view showing the inner face of one of the endhousing plates of the rotor device shown in Figs. l-3; I

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the annular rotor housing section ofthe device shown in Figs. 1-3;

Fig. 1 0 is a sectional view on the line 10-.10,of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through a modified hydraulic unit having camtrack and cam follower means for positively actuating theradially-movable rotor vanes;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view' taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 12a is an enlarged perspective view of one of the rotor vanes ofthe device of Fig. 11 showing the cam'fol lowers thereon; Y

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of a reversible, hydraulicallyoperable deviceemploying a pair of rotor units adapted to be driven in opposite angulardirections and having control means for selectively directing operatingfluid to said rotor units and for selectively connecting said rotorunits to a common shaft, the control means in position to admitoperating fluid to the left rotor unit and to connect this unit to theshaft;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the reversible hydraulically-operabledevice as viewed from the right of Fig. 13; V Fig. 15 is a sectionalview substantially on the line 15-15 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15 showing onerotor unit and having a portion thereof cut away to show a portion ofthe other rotor unit;

Fig. '17 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 17-17 of Fig. 15,and showing the left rotor unit, the fluid control means being in aposition to supply operating fluid to this rotor unit;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17, but showing the I fluid controlmeans in a position to cut off the supply of operating fluid to the leftrotor unit and to supply operating fluid to the right rotor unit, asviewed in Fig. 15; and Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary perspectiveview of the fluid control means of the device in Figs. 1318.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and specifically to Figs. 1through 10 thereof, the hydraulically-operated device A comprises endhousing sections 12 and 14 having disposed therebetween an annular rotorhousing section 16 the configuration of which is best shown in Fig. 9.These housing sections are secured together in tightly-assembled,fluid-sealed relationship by means of a plurality of bolts 18 which passthrough suitable registering openings in the housing sections and havenuts 20 threadedly engaged with the ends thereof. The annular housingsection 16 is undercut on each side of the periphery thereof to provideshoulders 19, andthe end housing plates 12 and 14 are provided withperipheral flanges 21 and 22 respectively, which engage the shoulders 19and thereby facilitate a fluid-tight joint. The

end plates 12 and 14 in co-operation with the annular h housing section16 provide a rotor chamber 24 in which a rotor unit 26 is disposed. Theend plate 14 is provided with an outwardly-extending axial hub 28 havinga central bore 30 which forms a bearing for rotor axle 32. The rotoraxle 32 is bored and grooved as shown at 34 to thereby receive the endof a splined shaft 36, the other end of which, for example, may beconnected to a device (not shown) to be driven. The end plate 12 is alsoprovided with an outwardly-extending axial hub 38, which is centrallybored at to receive a hollow shaft or tubular member 42 which extendsinto the rotor chamber 24 and into an axial bore 43 (Fig. 6) within therotor unit 26. The shaft 42 may be force-fitted into the bore 40 of theaxial hub 38, and is adapted to remain stationary relative thereto andto form a fluid-tight seal therewith. Operating clearance is provided,however, between the inner end of the shaft 42 and the rotor bore 43 sothat the rotor unit 26 may freely rotate with respect to this member,which acts as a bearing therefor. The hollow shaft 42 provides apassageway 44 for operating fluid to or from the rotor unit 26 as willhereinafter be more fully described.

The rotor unit 26 substantially completely fills the rotor chamber 24with just sufficient clearance being provided'between the side faces ofthe rotor unit 26 and the inside faces of the end plates 12 and 14 topermit substantially frictionless rotation of the rotor unit 26.However, a clearance is provided between the periphery 45 of the rotorunit 26 and the inside periphery 46 of the annular housing section 16 toprovide working chambers 47 and. 47a for the rotor vanes as willhereinafter be described.

The rotor unit 26, as may best be seen in Figs. 3-7, comprises a,disk-like body portion 48 provided with two of operating fluid to pairsof oppositely-disposed radial slots 49 extending the full width of therotor body 48 and in which rotor vanes 50 are adapted to be received.The rotor vanes 50 are adapted to move radially in the slots 49 from aretracted position (top and bottom rotor vanes as viewed in Fig. 4),wherein the bottoms 52 of the rotor vanes 50 are substantially inengagement with the bottoms 54 of the slots 49 and the upper surfaces 56of the rotor vanes 50 are substantially flush with the rotor periphery45 to an extended position wherein the upper surfaces 56 are closelyadjacent the periphery 46 at the maximum diameter of the annular housingsection 16 (left and right rotor vanes as viewed in Fig. 4). In order toprovide limitation of the rotor vanes 50 to radial movement betweenthese positions, lateral guide-ways 60 are provided in the rotor body 48on either side of the slots 49 and the rotor vanes 50 are provided witha pair of oppositelyextending projections 62 adapted to extend into thelateral guide-ways 60 and to engage the bottom and top shoulders 64 and66 provided by such lateral guide-ways at the retracted and extendedpositions respectively of the rotor vanes 50. The engagement of theprojections 62 with the top shoulders 66 of guide-ways (:8 permits asmall operating clearance to be maintained between the top surfaces 56of the rotor vanes 50 and the periphery 46 of the annular housingsection 16, thereby eliminating friction between these surfaces as therotor rotates. The upper surface 56 of each rotor vane 58 is arcuate inconfiguration so that in the retracted position of the rotor vanes 50the surfaces 56 form a substantially smooth continuous portion of therotor periphery 45. Each rotor vane 50 is provided with alongitudinally-extending bore 68 (Figs. 3, 4, 5) and with acommunicating lateral bore 70 to provide a passageway for operatingfluid through such vane as will hereinafter be described. The topportion of each rotor vane 50 is provided with an extension 72 which isadapted to form the trailing portion of the rotor vane 50 as the rotorunit 26 is rotated in a forward angular direction. The extension 72 isprovided at the rear thereof with an inclined face 74 which, when therotor vane 50 is in retracted position, is adapted to fiushly engage acutout portion 76 in the rotor body 48. The lateral bore 70 in the rotorvane 50 forms an opening in the face 74. In order to provide for thepassage the rotor vanes 50, the rotor body 48 is provided with radialpassageways 78 connecting the bottom of each of the slots 49 with theaxial bore 43. As may best be seen in Fig. 4, the bores 68 in the vanes50 substantially form radial extensions of the passageways 78. The endof the hollow shaft 42 within the rotor bore 43 is cut out to provideoppositely-disposed ports 80 and 81 respectively, which provide meansfor selectively admitting or discharging operating fluid to thepassageways 78 of the rotor unit 26, depending upon the angular positionof the rotor. Each of the ports 80 and 81 extends about one-quarter ofthe way around the periphery of the shaft 42 so that as the rotor unit26 rotates two of the ports 78 communicating with the bore 43 are inopen communication with passageway 44 in the hollow shaft 42, where asthe other two ports 78 are closed off. The hollow shaft 42, uponassembly of the device, is stationarily and angularly disposed withrespect to the housing sections 12, 14, and 16, so that communicationbetween passageway 44 and the ports 78 is beginning to be established bycontrol ports 89 and 81 at the angular position of the rotor unit 26, atwhich the rotor vanes 50 are beginning to enter the working chambers 47and 47a and communication is cut off as the rotor vanes 50 approach theends of the working chambers 47 and 47a.

As will best be seen from Figs. 4 and 9, the inner periphery 46 of theannular housing section 16 is pro vided with a pair ofoppositely-disposed, inwardly-extending portions 82 and 83,respectively, which curve gradually inwardly beginning at points 84 and85 near the discharge end of the working chambers 47 and 47a,

respectively, and terminate in portions 86 and 87 which are adapted tojust clear the rotor periphery 45 and surfaces 56 of rotor vanes 50 whensuch vanes are in their retracted position. The ends of the inwardlyextending portions 82 and 83 provide abutments 88 and 89 defining thebeginning of working chambers 47 and 47a, respectively, and providingreaction surfaces against which the operating fluid may act.

Each of the end housing sections or plates 12 and 14 is provided with apair of ports 90 and 92 for discharging operating fluid from the workingchambers 47 and 47a near the end thereof. The ports 90 and 92 aredisposed adjacent the end portions 86 and 87 of the inwardly extendingportions 82 and 83 of the annular housing section 16. In order to permitflow of fluid from the working chambers 47 and 47a to discharge ports 90and 92, the end plates 12 and 14 are further provided with peripheralgrooves 94 and 96 respectively, which extend arcuately along the innerfaces of these plates for a substantial distance adjacent theinwardly-extending portions 82 and 83 of the annular housing section 16.Thus, there is no substantial restriction to the flow of fluid from theworking chambers 47 and 47a on the discharge side of the vanes 56.Conventional fittings 98 threadedly engage the ports 90 and 92 andconnect such ports with suitable conduits 100 for carrying thedischarged fluid to a return sump or to waste.

In operation of the device as shown in Figs. 1 through 10, operatingfluid under pressure is admitted to passageway 44 of hollow shaft 42 byactuation of a suitable control valve (not shown) and passes into therotor unit 26;. Assuming the rotor unit 26 to be at a standstill andthat the rotor vanes 50 are in the position shown in Fig. 4, theoperating fluid passes through control ports 80 and 81 and through ports78 into passageways 68 and 70 of the rotor vanes 50 shown at the leftand right of Fig. 4. These rotor vanes are forced by the pressure of theoperating fluid radially outward, as shown, to the full extent permittedby periphery 46 of the rotor chamber or by engagement of the projection62 with the outer shoulder 66 of the lateral guideway 60 in the rotorvane slots 49. The action of the operating fluid directed by lateralpassageway 70 against the inclined cut-away portion 76 also tends toraise the rotor vanes 50 and maintain them in extended position. In theextended position, operating fluid is directed by the lateralpassageways 70 substantially tangentially to the periphery of the rotorunit and acts against the rotor vanes 50 and against abutments 88 and 89to start the rotor unit 26 moving in a clockwise direction. As eachrotor vane clears the abutments 88 and 89 in the course of rotation ofthe rotor unit 26, operating fluid begins to be admitted to it throughthe control ports 80 and 81, respectively. As the rotor vanes 50approach the gradually-inclined inward extensions 82 and 83 in thecourse of rotation of the rotor unit 26, the ports 78 begin to pass outof registry with control ports 80 and 81 and the flow of operating fluidis completely out off by the time the trailing portion 72 of the rotorvanes clear the discharge grooves 94 and 96 in the end plates 12 and 14.Loss of operating fluid without performance of useful work is therebyavoided. At the time the trailing portion 72 of each rotor vane 50clears the beginning of the discharge grooves 94 and 96, the dischargeof operating fluid ahead of the next rotor vane is permitted. This fluidflows out through the ports 90 and 92 in the end plates 12 and 14 andthence through conduits 100 to a return sump (not shown) or to waste.

It will be seen that at each angular position of the rotor unit 26diametrically-opposed rotor vanes 50 are being subjected to exactly thesame forces. Fluid pressure is uniformly supplied to the opposed vanesthrough the central injection system. A smoothly-operating, wellbalanceddevice is thereby: provided.

In the embodiment described above, the rotor vanes 50 areforced outwardby fluid pressure and gravity without the aid of mechanical controlother than to limit such outward movement. Retraction of the rotor vanesis accomplished by means of the camming action ofthe inwardly-extendingportions 82 and 83 of the periphcry 46 of the annular rotor housingsection 16. In the modification generally designated as B, shown inFigs. 11 and 12, mechanical means are provided for controlling theradial position of the rotor vanes at each angular position of the rotorunit.

Referring now specifically to Figs. 11, 12, and 12a, the modified unit Bis provided with rotor units 26a, which are identical to the rotor units26 of the device previously described, except that the rotor vanes 50aat'their lower ends have projecting studs 101 upon which are mountedcam-followers 102. The cam-followers 102, for example, may compriseball-bearing rings. End housing plates 12a and 14a are provided in theirinner faces with cam-tracks 104 and 105, respectively, adapted toreceive the cam-followers 102 of rotor vanes 50a and to guide them alonga path forcing the rotor vanes 50a radially inward and outward as therotor unit 26a turns thereby to positively control the movement of suchvanes. The annular rotor housing section 16a is provided withinwardly-extending peripheral portions 82a and 83a which instead ofbeing gradually inclined in the forward direction of the travel of rotorunit 26a, may be relatively short and have sharply defined abutments84a--88a and 85a-89a, respectively, on each side thereof. The curvatureof the cam-tracks 104 and 105 (Fig. 12) is such that the rotor vanes 50aare fully retracted just before engaging the rear abutments 84a and 85a,and are extended to maximum position as quickly as possible after thetrailing edge 72a clears the forward abutments 85a and 89a. The rotorvanes 50a are fully extended by the cam means for an angular distance ofat least about 90 in each working chamber. The camming action, however,should be sufficiently gradual to ensure smooth operation of the device.

The device shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 12a permits reversal of the rotorunit 26a by simply reversing the direction of flow of the operatingfluid. For example, in operating the rotor unit 26a in a forward orclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 12, operating fluid may bebrought in through the axial system including passageway 44a, ports 78a,and outwardly through passages 68a, 70a in the rotor vanes 50a, finallydischarging from the ports 90a, 92a in exactly the same manner asdescribed above. In order to reverse the direction of travel of therotor unit 26a, operating fluid may be introduced into the ports 90a,92a by means of a suitable valving arrangement in the fluid controlsystem (not shown) whereby the fluid entering the working chambers actson the rear faces 106 of the rotor vanes 50a to drive the rotor unit26a'in a reverse or counterclockwise direction. Operating fluid ahead ofeach vane 50a, as such vane is being forced in reverse direction and isin its extended position, is discharged through the lateral passageway70a of the vane, down through radial passageway 68a, ports 78a, controlports 80a and 81a and out out of the axial passageway 44a which is nowconnected to a sump or to waste.

In the reversible double unit shown in Figs. 13 through 19, thehydraulic device generally indicated as C is provided with end housingplates 112 and 114 having a pair of annular rotor housing sections 116and 116a disposed therebetween and spaced apart by means of a centralhousing section 117. These housing sections are held together influid-tight engagement by means of bolts 118 which pass through suitableregistering openings, and are provided at their other ends with nuts120. As shown in Fig. 15, the rotor housing sections 116 and 116a areprovided with undercut peripheral portions 119 which are engaged byannular flanges 122 on the end plates 112, 114 and on the centralhousing section 117 respectively. The end plates 112and 114 inconjunction with theannular housing sections 116 and 116a and centralhousing member 117 are provided with a pair of rotor chambers 124 and124a respectively, wherein the rotor units 126 and 126a are disposed.

The end housing plate 114 is provided with an outwardly extending hub128 having a central bore 130, which forms a bearing for axle 132 ofrotor unit 126. The rotor axle 132 has'an axial bore 134 which at itsouter end is provided with inwardly-extending teeth 135 adapted to meshwith teeth 135a on a clutch member135b carried by splined shaft 136. Theteeth 135 mesh with the clutch teeth 135a when the clutch member 135b isin its outer position. When the clutch member 135b is in its innerposition as shown in Fig. 15, the clutch member 135k has disengagedshaft 136 from rotor'unit 126.

The central housing section 117 has a central bore 137 which forms abearing for axle 132a of the second rotor unit 126a (left rotor unit asviewed in Fig.

' Axle 132a extends through the bore 137 of the central housing section117 and into the bore 134 of the first rotor unit 126, terminating inthe bore 134 about half way through the axle 132. The two rotor units126 and 126a are adapted to rotate independently of each other, justsufiicient operating clearance being allowed for this purpose. The axle132a of rotor unit 126a at the end terminating in bore 134 is providedwith a central bore 136a of splined 134a which receives an axialextension shaft 136, whereby shaft 136 is maintained in proper alignmentwith the hydraulic unit. A bushing 13612 disposed in the bore 134abetween this bore and the shaft extension 136a permits free rotation ofshaft 136 with respect to rotor 126a when these elements are notclutched together.

The outer annular portion of the axle 132a of rotor 126a is providedwith teeth 139 which are adapted to mesh with teeth 139a carried by theend of clutch member lb. When the clutch member 13512 is in an innerposition as shown .in Fig. 15, the teeth 139 and 139a are engaged, andthe rotor 126a is thereby operably connected in driving relation toshaft 136.

The rotor units 126 and 1260, as may be observed from Fig. 16, aresimilar with respect to rotor vanes 150 and 150a and with respect tofluid-communicating ports 178 and 178a to those previously described forthe single rotor hydraulic unit A. The rotor units 126 and 126a aredisposed in the rotor chambers 124 and 124a so as to be adapted to turnin opposite directions. It will be observed from Fig. 16 that theextending portions 172 of the vanes 150 in rotor unit 126 are sodisposed as to drive this rotor unit in a counterclockwise direction,whereas the extending portions 172a of the vanes 150a in rotor unit 126aare so disposed as to drive this rotor unit in a clockwise direction.

The annular rotor housing sections 116 and 116a of the double unit C arealso similar to the annular rotor housing section 16 of the single unitA described herein, these sections in the double unit being disposed insuch manner as to correspond to the direction of rotation of theparticular rotor unit housed therein. Thus, in annular housing section116, the portions 182 and'183 defining the ends of the working chambersextend gradually inward in a counterclockwise direction terminating inabutments 188 and 189, whereas in the annular housing section 116a thecorresponding portions, such as 182a shown to the left of Fig. 16,extend inwardly in a clockwise direction terminating in abutments 188aalso shown to the left of Fig. 16. The annular housing Sections'116'and116a, as shown in the device C (Fig. l6) '-have 'in-eftect been reversedand angularly shifted with' respect to one another.

lholend-p'la'te 114 is provided with discharge ports 192 and dischargegrooves 196 for discharging operating fluid from rotor chamber 124through conventional fittings 198 to'suitable conduits 200 leading to areturn sump or to waste. The'end plate 112 likewise is provided withdischarge ports 192a, and discharge grooves 196:: for dischargingoperating fluid from rotor chamber 124a through conventional fittings198a and thence through conduits 200 to a return sump or to waste.

In order to supply operating fluid to the hydraulic device C, the endplate 112 is provided with a hub 138 which is centrally bored at 140 toreceive hollow shaft 142 having a fluid-control sleeve 210concentrically disposed over the end thereof. The hollow shaft 142 andcontrol sleeve 210 extend into an axial bore 143 in the rotor unit 126aand terminate at the end 212 of bore 143 at a position wherein the axle132a of rotor unit 126a extends within the bore 134 of the first rotorunit 126. Sufficient operating clearance is provided between controlsleeve210 and the rotor bore 143 to permit free rotation of the rotorunit 126a with respect to the control sleeve 210. Likewise, sufiicientoperating clearance is provided between control sleeve 210 and hollowshaft 142 to permit rotation of the control sleeve on shaft 142. Inorder to hold the shaft 142 stationary with respect to end housing plate112 and to form a fluidtight seal between these elements, the hollowshaft 142 is provided with an outer annular flange 214 adapted to fitflush with the end of hub 138 and to be tightly secured thereto by meansof bolts 216. The control sleeve 210 extends within an annular groove218 in the flange 214, thereby further preventing leakage of theassembly structure.

The hollow shaft 142provides a fluid passageway for axial flow ofoperating fluid selectively into rotor units 126 and 126a depending onthe angular position of control sleeve 210 as will hereinafter bedescribed. The end of hollow shaft 142 is provided with ports 180 and181 which control the timing of the flow of operating fluid into thefirst rotor unit 126, as previously described with respect to the singlerotor unit 26. In order to permit the flow of operatingfluid from theports 180 and 181 into radial passageways 178 of rotor unit 126, theaxle 132a of the second rotor unit 126a is provided with a plurality ofslots 220 around the entire peripheral portion engaged by I passageways178 on their path of rotation around axle 132a. The size and spacing ofthe slots 220 is such that flow of fluid from ports 180 and 181 may passinto the ports 178 regardless of the angular position of rotor unit 126awith respect to rotor unit 126. The control sleeve 210 is positionedover the hollow shaft 142 and is provided with control ports 222 and 224in the end thereof adapted to register with the ports 180 and 181 inhollow shaft 142 at a selected angular position of the control sleeve210. The length of the control ports 222 and 224 is slightly less thanthat of ports 180 and 181 so that upon rotation of control sleeve 210 tothe position as shown, for example, in Fig. 16, the ports 222 and 224may be moved completely out of registry with ports 180 and 181 so thatports 180 and 181 are completely closed off by the control sleeve 210.

In order to control the flow of operating fluid to the second rotor unit126a the hollow shaft 142 is provided with ports 180a and 181a whichpermit the flow of operating fluid from passageway 144 into radialpassageways 178a when such passageways are in the proper angularposition to open the vanes a into their respective working chambers aspreviously described with respect to the single hydraulic unit A. Thecontrol sleeve 210 is provided with control ports 226 and 228 which, inone angular position as shown in Figs. 15 and 17, are adapted toregister with ports a and. 181a, respectively, whereby to permit freeaccess of fluid from passageway 144 through the ports 180a and 181a toradial passageways 178a. '1' he control ports 226 and 228 are ofslightly less length than ports 180a and 181a, so thatthe control portsmay be moved completelyout of registry with ports 180a and 181a asshownin Fig. 18, to thereby cause controlsleeve 211) to completely shut offflow of operating fluid from passageway 144 to the rotor unit 126a.

In order to control the rotation of the control sleeve 210, this sleeveis provided with a radially-extending control lever 230 which extendsthrough an elongated slot 232 provided in the hub 38 of the end plate112. The length of slot 232 is such as to permit rotation of the controlsleeve 210 through an angle of 90. Simultaneous control of the flow ofoperating fluid to a particular rotor unit and engagement of theselected rotor unit to the shaft 136 is provided by means of alaterally-extending control arm 234 connected to control lever 230. Thelateral control arm 234 is connected to a clutch-engaging lever 236 bymeans of a rod 238 extending from the outer end of clutch-control lever236 into a bore 240 extending longitudinally into arm 234. A spring 242connected to the end of clutch lever 236 and to the end of arm 2.34tends to urge rod 238 into the bore 240 and to prevent lateraldisengagement of these parts. Clutch-lever 236 at its lower end isprovided with a yoke 244 having inward- 1y extending projections 246 and248 received within an annular channel 250 provided in the outer end ofclutch member 135b. The end of hub 128 of end plate 114 is provided witha cam 252 having a cam surface 255 beginning at a point 254 andextending from point 254 for an angular distance of 90 to a point 256.The lever 236 is provided with a cam follower 258 adapted to follow thecam surface 255 upon rotation of lever 236 from the position shown infull lines in Fig. 14 to the position shown in phantom lines in thisfigure. By the camming action effected by movement of the lever 236 bycontrol arm 234 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 14, the lever 236,yoke 244 and clutch member 13512 are caused to shift laterally outwardfrom the position shown in Figs. 13 and 15 whereby the clutch teeth 135aare meshed with teeth 135 on the axle 132 of the first rotor unit 126.At the same time lever 230 has caused the control sleeve 210 to berotated counterclockwise to cause control ports 222 and 224 to registerwith ports 180 and 181, whereby operating fluid may be supplied frompassageway 144 to the first rotor unit 126.

In operation of the hydraulic device C, assuming that it is desired todrive the shaft 136 in a clockwise direction, the control arm 234 isactuated as by means of a suitable control member 260 to positioncontrol levers 230 and 236 as shown in full lines in Figs. 13, 14, 15,16, and 17. In this position control ports 226 and 228 are in registrywith ports 180a and 181a, so that operating fluid may be admitted to therotor unit 126a (Fig. 17). Control ports 222 and 224 are out of registrywith ports 180 and 181 whereby operating fluid to the rotor unit 126 iscut oif (Fig. 16).. Clutch member 135b is in its inner position asshown, whereby teeth 139a are in engagement with teeth 139 on hub 132aof the rotor unit 126a, and teeth 13511 are disengaged from teeth 135carried by hub 132 of the rotor unit 126. Operating fluid is nowadmitted to passageway 144 by actuation of a suitable control valve (notshown) and flows through ports 180a 181a and 226, 228 into radialpassageways 178a thence into the passageways 168a of rotor vanes 150a,lifting 'these vanes into their respective working chambers and thenpassing out through the lateral passage'ways 170a to force the vanes androtor unit 126a in a. clockwise direction. Fluid is exhausted from theends ofthe working chambers through grooves 196a and ports 192a.

I -If it is now desired to reverse the direction of rotation of shaft136, the flow of operating fluid through passageway 144 is stopped byactuation of the control valve (not shown) and after rotation of therotor unit 126a and shaft 136 has slowed down, the control arm 234 maybe actuatedby the actuating means 260 to move levers 230 and 236 throughan angle of 90 counterclockwise, as

viewed in Fig. 14, whereby clutch member-b is shifted to the right todisengage teeth 139a from the teeth 1390f the rotor unit 126a and engageteeth 135a with teeth 135 carried by the axle 132 of the rotor unit 126.At the same time, control sleeve 210 has been rotated so that theports226 and 228 are now out of registry with ports 180a and 181a of therotor unit 126a (Fig. 18), and the ports 222 and 224 are in registrywith ports 180 and 181, whereby to admit operating fluid to the rotorunit 126. Operating fluid may now be admitted through passageway 144 andpasses through the ports 180 and 181, 222 and 224 through ports 220 insleeve 210 in the rotor axle 132a and'into radial passageways 178.Operating fluid then passes into the passageways 168 and 170 in therotor vanes 158, lifting the vanes and causing them to move the rotorunit 126 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby driving shaft 136 inthis direction. Operating fluid is discharged through grooves 196,discharge ports 192, and passes through conduits 200 to a return sump orto waste, as previously described.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction and configuration of the parts of the hydraulic unitsherein disclosed without departing from the principles of the inventionor the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A hydraulically-operable device, comprising: a housing providing arotor chamber; a rotor unit mounted within said rotor chamber, saidrotor unit having an axle on one side thereof extending through saidhousing and adapted to be connected to a shaft and having an axial boreon the other side thereof, said rotor unit having a plurality of movablevanes and said housing providing a working chamber for said vanes;fluid-passage means extending through said housing and communicatingwith one end of said working chamber; fluid-passage means extendingthrough said housing and communicating with the axial bore of said rotorunit; and fluid-passage means in said rotor unit for establishingcommunication from said axial bore of said rotor unit to said workingchambers, whereby operating fluid may flow through said housing androtor unit and act upon said rotor vanes in said working chamber tothereby drive said rotor.

2. A hydraulically-operable device as defined in claim 1 wherein saidhousing provides a pair of oppositelydisposed working chambers aroundthe periphery of said rotor unit and said rotor vanes are radiallyextendable into said working chambers for a portion of a revolutionofthe rotor unit and are radially retractable at the ends of saidworking chambers during another portion of said revolution of the rotorunit.

3. A hydraulically-operable device as defined in claim 2 wherein thefluid-passage means in said rotor unit include passageways in said rotorvanes for flow of operating fluid when said rotor vanes are radiallyextended into said working chambers.

4. A hydraulically-operable device as defined in claim 3 wherein saidpassageways in said rotor vanes are disposed to direct flow of operatingfluid from said rotor vanes generally tangentially to the periphery ofsaid rotor unit.

5. A hydraulically-operable device as defined in claim 3 whereinfluid-control means are provided for timing the flow of operating fluidto the passageways in said rotor vanes so that flow of operating fluidthrough said passageways is permitted when said rotor vanes are in thepath of said working chambers and is cut oil when said rotor vanes areadjacent the ends of said working chambers.

6. The hydraulically-operable device of claim 2 wherein said rotor unitincludes means responsive to the pressure of operating fluid admitted tosaid rotor unit through the axial bore thereof to extend said rotorvanes radially into said working chambers.

7. The hydraulically-operable device of claim 2 wherein cam means areprovided for controlling the radial position of said rotor vanes at allangular positions of said rotor to therebymove said rotor vanes -intoand out of said working'chambers.

8. A hydraulically-operable device, comprising: a housing providing arotor chamber, said housing having hub portions projecting outwardlytherefrom on opposite sides thereof; a rotor unit in said rotor chamber,said rotor unit having an axle on one side thereof extending into one ofsaid hub portions of said housing and adapted to be connected to a shaftand having an axial bore on the other side thereof, said rotor unithaving a plurality of radially-movable vanes slidably mounted inopenings in the peripheral portion thereof, and said housing providing apair of oppositely-disposed working chambers around the periphery ofsaid rotor unit into which said rotor vanes are adapted to be radiallyextended; a hollow shaft extending through the other of said hubportions of said housing and into said axial bore in said rotor unit,said'hollow shaft having peripheral ports in the end thereof within saidrotor unit; said rotor unit having radial passageways adapted toregister with the ports in said hollow shaft during at least a portionof a revolution of said rotor unit, said radially-movable vanes of saidrotor unit having passagewaysestablishing communication between saidradial passageways and said working chambers when said vanes are in aradially-extended position; and fluid-passage means in said housingcommunicating with the ends of said working chambers whereby operatingfluid for driving said rotor unit may pass through said hollow shaft,through passageways in said rotor unit and rotor vanes into said workingchambers, and be discharged through the fluid-passage means in saidhousing.

9. The hydraulically-operable device of claim 8 wherein the rotor unitcomprises a body portion having radial slots in a peripheral portionthereof for receiving said radially-movable vanes, the outer portions ofsaid radiallymovable vanes in a retracted position forming asubstantially uniform peripheral portion of said rotor body; a lateralextension at an outer portion of each rotor vane providing anoutwardly-inclined face and said rotor body having cutout portionsadapted to receive said lateral extensions and providing inclined facesmating with the inclined faces of said rotor vanes when said vanes arein a retracted position, the passageways in said rotor vanes openingupon the inclined faces of said rotor vanes Whereby operating fluidadmitted to said rotor vanes through the radial passageways of saidrotor unit is directed against the inclined faces of the rotor body andacts to force the rotor vanes radially outward into the workingchambers.

10. A rotor unit for a hydraulically-operable device, comprising: arotor body having a plurality of radial slots around the peripherythereof; a plurality of rotor vanes slidably mounted for radial movementin said slots; said rotor body having a central bore and fluid passagemeans in said rotor body and in said rotor vanes for flow of operatingfluid from said central bore to the periphery ofsaid rotor.

11. A rotor unit for a hydraulically-operable device, comprising: acylindrical rotor body having an axle extending from one side thereofand adapted to support said rotor body for rotation about a centralaxis, said rotor body having an axial bore extending into the other sidethereof, said rotor body further having a plurality of radial slotsaround the periphery thereof and having ports establishing communicationbetween said axial bore and the bottom of said radial slots; and rotorvanes slidably mounted in said radial slots and adapted to be radiallymovable therein between a retracted and extended position, the outerportions of said rotor vanes in saidzretracted position forming asubstantially uniform peripheral portion of said rotor body, said rotorvanes having radial passageways forming a substantially radial extensionof the ports in said'rotor body and having lateral passageways at theirouter ends communicating 12 with said radial passageways and adapted tobe uncovered when said vanes are in said radially-extended position.

12. The rotor unit defined in-claim 11 wherein means are provided forlimiting the radial movement of-said rotor vanes between said retractedand extended positions.

13. The rotor unit of claim 11 wherein said radial slots andradially-movable vanes extend the entire width of said rotor body.

14. The rotor unit of claim 11 wherein said rotor vanes have a lateralextension at the end thereof and wherein said rotor body is cut away atthe peripheral edge of said slots to receive said lateral extensions.

15. The rotor unit of claim 14 wherein-said lateral extensions of therotor vanes form an inclined face mating with a similar inclined face insaid rotor-body when said vanes are in retracted position and'whereinthe lateral passageways in said vanes open upon said inclined face.

16. A hydraulically-operable device comprising: an annular housingsection; an end housing section on 0pposite sides of said annularhousing section and c0- operating therewith to form a rotor chamber;means securing said housing sections together, each of said end housingsections having a hub projecting outwardly therefrom; a rotor unit insaid rotor chamber having an axle on one side extending into the hub ofone of said end housing sections and having an axial bore in the otherside thereof said axlebeing adaptedto'beconected to a shaft, said rotorunit having a plurality of radially-movable vanes slidably mounted inopenings in a peripheral portion thereof, said annular housing sectionhaving an inner periphery spaced from said rotor unit and havinginwardly-extending portions defining working chambers for said rotorvanes; a hollow-shaft extending into the hub of the other of said endhousing sections and into the axial bore of said rotor unit, said hollowshaft having peripheral ports in the end thereof within said rotor bore;fluid-passage means in said rotor unit and rotor vanes establishingconnection between the ports in said hollow shaft and said workingchambers when said rotor vanes are in an outwardly extended position;and fluid-passage means extending through at least one of said housingsections and communicating with said working chambers.

17. The hydraulically-operable device of claim 16 wherein said rotorunit-comprises a rotor body having radial ports establishingcommunication between said rotor vanes and said axial bore and whereinthe peripheral ports in the end of said hollow shaft are angularlydisposed to selectively register with said radial ports during thatportion of a revolution of said rotor unit wherein said rotor vanes arein the path of said working chambers.

18. A reversible, hydraulically-operable device, comprising: an annularhousing section; an end housing section on opposite sides of saidannnlar housing section and co-operating therewith to form' a rotorchamber; means securing said housing sections together, each of said endhousing sections having a hub projecting outwardly therefrom; arotorunit in said rotorchamber having an axle on one side extending intothe hubof one of said end housing sections and adapted to be connectedto a shaft and having an axial bore in the other side thereof, saidrotor unit having a plurality of radially-movable vanes slidably mountedin openings'in a peripheral portion theerof, said annular-housingsection having an inner periphery'spaced from said rotor unit and havinginwardly-extending portions defining working chambers for said rotorvanes; means providing a camway in one of said endhousing sections;camfollower means on said rotor vanes projecting from said rotor unitinto said camway in saidend housingsection, said camway andcam-followers controlling the position of said radially-movable rotorvanes at all angular positions of said rotor unit so that said vanes aremoved 13 into and out of said working chambers during rotation of saidrotor units; a hollow shaft extending into the hub of said end housingsection opposite said rotor axle and into the axial bore of said rotorunit; fluid-passage means for flow of operating fluid from said hollowshaft into said rotor unit and through said rotor vanes into saidWorking chambers when said vanes are in the path of said workingchambers; and fluid-passage means in at least one of said end housingsections to admit or discharge operating fluid from said workingchambers.

19. A reversible, hydraulically-operable device comprising: a housingproviding a pair of rotor chambers; a pair of rotor units in said rotorchambers adapted to be driven in opposite directions; and control meansfor selectively admitting operating fluid to said rotors and forselectively connecting said rotors to a common shaft to therebyselectively effect forward and reverse rotation of said shaft.

20. A reversible, hydraulically-operable device, comprising: a housingproviding a pair of rotor chambers and having a hub extending outwardlyon each side thereof; a first rotor unit in one of said rotor chambershaving an axle extending from one side thereof into one of said hubs,said first rotor unit having an axial bore therethrough; a second rotorunit disposed in the other of said rotor chambers and having an axleextending from one side thereof into the axial bore of said first rotorunit, said second rotor unit also having an axial bore; said rotor unitshaving a plurality of radially-movable vanes slidably mounted inopenings in a peripheral portion thereof, said housing providing workingchambers for the rotor vanes and said rotor units being disposed in saidrotor chambers to be driven in opposite directions; a hollow shaftextending into the other hub of said housing and into the axial bore ofsaid second rotor unit; fluid-passage means for the admission ofoperating fluid from said hollow shaft through each of said rotor unitsto said Working chambers; outlet means in said housing for dischargingoperating fluid from said Working chambers; and control means forselectively admitting 4 14 operating fluid to said rotor units and forselectively engaging the axles of said rotor units to a common shaftwhereby said shaft may be driven selectively in a forward or reversedirection by said rotor units.

21. A reversible, hydraulically-operable device comprising: a housingproviding a pair of rotor chambers, said housing having a hub extendingon each side thereof; a first rotor unit mounted within one of saidrotor chambers and having an axle extending outwardly through one ofsaid hubs, said first rotor unit having an axial bore extendingcompletely therethrough; a second rotor unit mounted for rotation withinsaid other rotor chamber, said second rotor unit having an axleextending within the axial bore of said first rotor unit and terminatingat a midportion therein, said rotor units being adapted to rotate inopposite directions within said rotor chambers, said second rotor unithaving an axial bore in that portion of its axle extending within theaxial bore of said first rotor unit; a shaft extending within the axialbore of said first rotor unit and journaled within the axial bore ofsaid second rotor unit; clutch means carried by said shaft and slidablymovable thereon to selectively connect said rotor units in drivingengagement to said shaft; means extending into the other hub of saidhousing and into said rotor units for supplying operating fluid to saidrotor units; and control means for selectively admitting operating fluidto one or the other of said rotor units.

22. The hydraulically-operable device as claimed in claim 21, whereincommon control means are provided for selectively admitting operatingfluid to one or the other of said rotor units and for moving said clutchmemher to selectively engage said one or the other of said rotor unitsto said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

